IVCCD Board signs “huge” energy savings contract

January 11, 2012

The Iowa Valley Community College District (IVCCD) Board of Directors signed an energy savings contract that guarantees an overall energy cost savings of 20 to 30 percent annually, which will amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars over the contract period and as much as $2.8 million in 10 years. The four-year contract, with Energy Education Inc. of Dallas, Texas, was met with enthusiasm as the Board received assurances that the savings would begin in the first few months of the contract.

According to IVCCD Chancellor Chris Duree, the District investigated references on the company and found that clients were overwhelmingly positive about their experiences with Energy Education. He told the Board, "their references were glowing, and we fully anticipate a huge cost savings over the next 10 years, which will allow us to redirect our resources to address some of the ongoing building and maintenance needs that come with a District of our size."

Energy Education Vice President Karen Mullins was at the meeting, and she said the 25-year-old company has about 1,200 current clients. It's just been in the last few years that they've expanded their clientele to work with higher education. "Our contract numbers are conservative, and we intend to exceed your expectations," she said. "We only take on 80 new clients a year, so we're not over-extended. Once we've installed the monitoring software and hired your energy education specialists, our engineers will be on your campuses two to three times a week to train the specialists and ensure that the program gets off to a strong start."

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Chris DureeIowa Valley Chancellor

The cost of the contract is $9,200 a month, but Mullins assured the IVCCD Board that there would be a positive cash flow from energy savings within the first 90 to 120 days. Fees are paid from the District's energy savings, and the District gets the remainder. Mullins emphasized that the energy program is about more than turning off lights and computers it's about changing organizational behavior (how each person uses and manages energy) through education.

Approval was also given for two new academic programs, and it was noted that job prospects are outstanding for graduates of both programs. Precision Agriculture will be offered beginning this spring at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, and a one-year Utility Technician program will be offered starting next fall at Marshalltown Community College. Instructors for both programs were at the meeting to explain the uniqueness of their degree programs and the demand for qualified graduates of those programs in Iowa and the Midwest.

In voting action, the Board: approved revisions to the District's voluntary early retirement incentive plan policy; approved an expanded lease agreement for Orpheum Theater storage space at 210 E. Main St. in Marshalltown; accepted a $1,713 grant from the Marshalltown Convention & Visitors Bureau for the Jean Seberg International Film Festival; approved a contract for providing college-level instruction to Aplington-Parkersburg High School students; approved ECC, MCC and IVGrinnell student senate budgets for 2011-2012; approved a contract with Con-Struct for snow removal on the Marshalltown campus; approved an agreement for physician services at ECC home football games with McFarland Clinic in Iowa Falls; and approved a memo of understanding with the Department of Defense to bring ECC and MCC into compliance with tuition assistance programs for military service members.

In other matters, several donations were accepted by the Board, including three horses from Richard Pals valued at $14,700; Jean Seberg memorabilia from Tom LaVille and Pauline Smith valued at $4,200 and $6,000 respectively; dental items from Dr. David Clark valued at $2,182; a $3,000 paralegal program scholarship from faculty member Ed Jorgensen; tools from Kay Barfels valued at $540; and a sculpture from Bill & Linda Medland valued at $250. Other donations were from a variety of individuals for the MCC Basketball Thrift Sale.

The next regular meeting of the IVCCD Board of Directors will be on Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 4 pm in the District Administration building on the Iowa Valley/Marshalltown campus, 3702 S. Center St., Marshalltown.